Pintrest in the Classroom 

As teachers we are always looking for new ways to be creative through lessons and projects. It is so hard to look at books and try to make it interesting and fun for the students to learn. Those books are so overrated now. Pinterest is such an easy and creative way to learn from other teachers. It is an app that allows teachers to to share ideas to each other by pinning it on a board to save it. There are so many different ideas on this app that you can search for that give you so many great lessons, activities and even inspirational quotes to help you give your students the best education that you can. 

I have just recently finished a project on using pins to help teachers to make their classrooms more efficient by using the app. I did my project over Physical Fitness. Going into this subject I thought that it would be hard to find pins on this standard. Believe it or not, I have found so many helpful lesson ideas and information on the topic that has given me what I need to help make it perfect. There was so many helpful ideas that were given when i reached about a fitness and nutrition plan. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TwbvmdM_RjAEM0rcgrHdVLnEHRUS6UxgXCKhTNAVrEQ/edit?usp=sharing

The link above is the activity I provided in my lesson and did myself. I allowed them to use the Pinterest page along with searching on the web. Even when you search on Google it led me straight to Pinterest and gave me more information by doing that. The pictures below are the activity I had the students do. I had them make a presentation giving details on what a fitness and nutrition plan is. They could use any source they would like. A lot of my sources came from Pinterest. 

This is my Pinterest page that I shared all my pins through to show all of my findings for this topic. 

https://www.pinterest.com/jimmileeanna/ed-tech-spring-2016/

Although, I am not a teacher I will definitely use this as a key to my success in my career. It is so easy to look for resources through Pinterest to help you for certain lessons. I hope this is very informing for all the teachers out there that get stuck and need a simple way to find that perfect lesson to teach their students to the best of their abilities. 

Web 2.0

Many teachers favor Web 2.0 sits and tools to help them progress in their teaching styles for their students. Here are 10 examples of the most commonly used Web 2.0 tools.

1.) Animoto
https://animoto.com/dashboard
This site is available to help access a way for anyone to make videos easier. There are plenty of styles you have to choose from. It helps you and takes you step by step on how to make your video. This is a tool teachers could use to give an assignment to their students on making a video with a certain topic. Its easy to use for everyone.

2.) Aurasma
https://www.aurasma.com
This tool is used so you are able to keep up with news and updates around the world. It gives you easy access to videos on reality and live ways to interact with the real world through technology. It gives you the ability to see everyday things come to life. You can take a picture and create it to anything that you want. This can help students extend their knowledge and creativity to make their own Aurasma through different topics.

3.) Citelighter
https://www.citelighter.com
This is a helpful tool to use when teaching the writing process. This site gives a break down on how you should write. It is designed to help make writers and students stranger. It gives teachers and students to opportunity to improve and teach in a digital form. The format is laid out for access to the teacher and student equally.

4.) ClassDojo
https://www.classdojo.com
This is a website for teachers to help improve their classroom. It is full of teacher resources that are there for your convince as teachers to better their teaching. It sets up a profile for students and teachers to have access to each other and gives emoji type pictures to send to each other. Also anything can be shared through this tool between student and teacher. It helps send positive vibes and also what needs to be worked on to help the student improve.

5.) Diijo
https://www.diigo.com
This site is designed for teachers to have access to help them get other sites shared and bookmarked. This is a way for teachers to get their ideas they have come across and also share them. The more things you will want to see the more you will have to pay. It gives you access to all sites being shared around from teacher to teacher. There is also a blog available.

6.) Edmodo
https://www.edmodo.com
This site is known as the safest and easiest way for student, teachers, and parents to all stay connected. Teachers are able to blend their classrooms and also extend their classroom for everyone to discover the new ways to be taught. Parents can stay connected and know what their child is participating. They will have unlimited access to schedules and lesson plans and grade viewers.

7.) EduClipper
https://educlipper.net/main.html
This is designed for students and teachers to have better materials and resources to help enhance learning to the students. It helps save time in classroom and has more benefit to learning because of all the many resources. It is set up a lot like Pinterest. You can look at different boards and posts that others have posted. They have in classroom boards and also random ones.

8.) Educreations
https://www.educreations.com
This site is designed to be able to teach students at any place and any time. This is an app that is available through the apple store. The site is there to help you improve learning through an iPad or any Apple product. One of the examples that passes through shows a cell body. You can write and label the cell with any color to help you memorize. This is something that is key to helping a student learn if it is more hands on.

9.) Goalbook
https://goalbookapp.com
This site is designed to help teachers school-wide help differentiate their instruction to students. It is there for support to show students better in their instruction. There is a goal tool-kit available and that is what is the guide to helping you improve instruction. This site is always useful for teachers whether they are first year or veteran. Setting goals is a key to a successful classroom and this site is there to guide teachers in the correct path.

10.) Gobstopper
http://www.curriculet.com
This is a independent reading tool for students to have access to. It is known as the best reading program available. It contains an on-demand library that is unlimited access. This is to help students progress in their reading with having this hands on reading any time they want to access it. As the student reads it also has checkpoints your can stop at and answer questions over what they are reading.

Social Media

http://socialmediaissues.net/author/gabriels-blog-2/

The blog above discusses the issues of social media today and how it is the center of many lives. The author Gabriel talks about how social media is rising to new groups and networks. He states the facts that all these people connecting through social networks is an awesome thing but it is to the point where some people have not even met before. 

http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/facebook-reaction-buttons

This blog is a little different then the one above. This is describing how Facebook new additions are expanding to the new reaction button. It discusses how it could effect marketers and how they can now officially see how their users feel about their market. 

The blogs both have negative and positive opinions on Facebook that I can relate to. In my opinion social media is booming right now. I know I spend 80% of my time on my phone scrolling through my Twitter feed and looking at what the newest Facebook post is. Growing up we never had any type of social media. It was rare for you to even have a computer. I feel like social media is taking over the world and no one is seeing the real world just what they believe on Facebook. There is bullying and there is destruction that happens through social networking and it devastating to see how things are so out of control. But I do see the perk of having it. You can stay in contact with so many family members and friends. I know some people who have met their sole mates through social media and it is hard to believe it has come this far. 

Surviving and not Starving

 

As a college student it is hard to find time to eat with all the homework and studying. Chik Fil A and Taco Bell are so convenient to just hit the drive threw up and get it to go. I struggle the most with being so lazy to actually get up and cook something when its so easy to go pick something up thats fast food. This is where the freshmen 15 or the sophomore 20 really hit you. This food is all processed and even though the french fries at McDonalds taste like they are fried in golden grease it is all so bad for you. But not as bad as all the money you are spending. If your like me, for 18 years of my life my mom has cooked for me. I have always had a passion for cooking and love to make meals that are cheap. I have recently sat down and started meal planning. Yes, I know what college kid has time to sit down and plan out their meals. But 9/10 times during the day I am thinking about my next meal because thats all I think about. I am here to help you all out by showing you my results through planning out my meals and give you some tips on how to make easy, semi healthy, and super cheap meal.

Here is a 7 day plan that might could help you save money, lose weight, and feel better about yourself. On Sundays I always go and buy all my food for the week and i usually only spend 50 dollars at the most. I also make my lunches for the week and have them ready to go so I can just grab and go.

Day 1- Grab a granola bar or drink a smoothie for breakfast.Something light to start you off but to also keep you from going through Micky D's to get that bacon egg and cheese biscuit that costs you at least 7 dollars. For lunch make a Turkey and Cheese sandwich on wheat bread with some apples or even a bag of chips won't hurt you. For dinner, lets make spaghetti. This meal is so simple and so cheap. All you need is hamburger meat, noodles, and your favorite sauce. You fry up your hamburger meat add you sauce and let it simmer and boil your noodles and TADAAHH!!! Your meal is done!! If you are wanting to take the healthy route buy the whole wheat noodles and sugar free sauce. I usually cook the entire box and make a lot of for left overs.

Day 2- Fry an egg or egg white for breakfast with some toast. Grab a fork and mix up a couple of eggs in a bowl and add a 1/4 of cup of milk into your eggs to make them fluffy. Put some butter in a pan and just stir them until they are no longer runny. If you have a toaster use that but if not turn your oven on to about 400 and then stick your toast in the oven for about 5 minutes or until its crunchy. A simple and easy breakfast that takes about 5 minutes to prepare. For lunch eat left overs!! For dinner EAT LEFTOVERS!! By now you will be sick of eating spaghetti but think of all the money you will be saving.

Day 3- Eat an apple or your favorite fruit for breakfast. For lunch have a meal prepped the night before. I usually do salads for lunch. Anywhere you go out to eat salads are extremely expensive and over priced so I like to make my own. I buy a head of lettuce or about 4 dollars that lasts me all week. I buy my favorite things to go in my salad: cheese, croutons, bacon bits, tomatoes. Then I like to make my own ranch. Believe it or not its SO simple to make restaurant style ranch. Buy the original style Hidden Valley Ranch packet for like $.50 and add a cup of mayo and a cup of milk and mix it together and thats it. YOUR DONE. Just like that you've got that special ranch that you can never get enough of. For supper make some tacos. You can use whatever meat you would like. I usually use hamburger meat because it is the cheapest. I get the taco bell shells, seasoning, and even the mild sauce packets at Walmart so i can make sure I am still getting the full experience of Taco Bell but just for a cheaper price! All you have to do is follow the instructions on the back of the box on what it tells you do and this meal will only cost you around $12.

Day 4- For breakfast eat some oatmeal. Oats are so good for you and its such a simple meal. Get the cups that are already made and all you need is water and to be put in the microwave to cook! You can add any fruit you would like to make them even more yummy! For lunch use your left over taco supplies to make a salad. Get you favorite bag of Doritos and crunch them up and add some lettuce, cheese, salsa, tomato, sour cream, olives. Anything you want!! This is one of my favorites! For dinner get some pork chops and defrost them. Add you favorite seasoning to them and add about 2 tablespoons of butter so a sauce pan. All you do is stick your pork chops in the pan and cook them until their done! To make this a great meal I get some wild rice in a box and it goes perfect with this meal. Also add in your favorite veggie. Broccoli or green beans!! All veggies can be cooked in the microwave btw ;)

Day 5- To start off the day buy your favorite brand and flavor of yogurt. For lunch make another salad. Even though by now you maybe tired of the salads but its Day 5 and your almost there!! You can also eat left overs if you have them! For dinner get the individually bagged tilapia and defrost it in the water. Turn your oven on 375 and get some aluminum foil to wrap your fish in. Cut up a lemon and use half of it to squeeze on top and then the other half to cook in the aluminum foil for more flavor. Use whatever seasoning you like... My favorite is the cajon seasoning. And let it cook for about 20 minutes! And your done!! You can also make some more rice or your favorite veggie to go along with this meal or whatever your craving! If your taking the healthy route just stay away from potatoes!

Day 6- THIS IS YOUR DAY TO EAT WHATEVER YOU WANT!!!! Go out to your favorite restaurant and treat yourself to the best meal you've had all week! You deserve it!

Day 7- Since its the weekend I like to cheat and Sundays are usually days I go out and eat whatever I want to again. Its okay to have cheat days :) And we have saved money all week why not blow it on food again :)